Why are we on a fiscal cliff and looking at a second 30+ per cent Special Rate Variation (SRV) since the last one reached its climax in 2021?
The last Council acted on a study examining the best solutions for the future of Lavertys Gap and Mullumbimby’s water supply, economically, environmentally and for long-term supply of future demand. They voted to consolidate the already existing emergency line to Rous, building a permanent connection to obviate the considerable expense of rehabilitating the Lavertys Gap system and water treatment plant (WTP).
One of the first acts of the new Council was to rescind this motion, embark upon further investigation with a cost to date of over $600,000. In this time a vote was narrowly lost to preemptively purchase land for a ‘dam’, before the ‘investigation’ was completed! Phew!
A recent staff report set out the facts in stark, practically pleading terms. The old WTP was failing so often as to present a health hazard (as the Hydrosphere report predicted) – let’s just use the Rous connection we’ve already since completed? No, some in Mullumbimby must have some semblance of their own water supply. Another 9:4 [sic] vote opted to keep investigating a ‘hybrid scheme’ to see about the ‘biggest little town’ having duplicate infrastructure – cost: up to $300,000 to find out about a new WTP with figures in debate ranging from $9m to $11m.
Does anyone think that in this economic climate, state, or federal money will stump up for a town that is already getting an ample water supply? Do we need to keep ‘investigating’ right now? Especially when advice is usually ignored if unpalatable?
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
